January 18, 2024

Young Bristol host 2023 Annual General Meeting

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Last night, our corporate partner, Burges Salmon, kindly helped us to host our 2023 Annual General Meeting and Year In Review. The evening was well attended, with over 40 people joining us! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed hearing about our impact and upcoming opportunities.

The evening began by hearing from Young Bristol president, Jonathan Webb. He kindly welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. Jonathan then kindly introduced Jamie Cameron and Victoria Matthews, Young Bristol Joint Chairs. They outlined the progress we have made with the Young Bristol strategy 2022-25 and the impact we have had across our Community Youth Club network.

Throughout the evening, we heard from Young Bristol’s office staff, who discussed the future plans for Young Bristol in 2024. We heard about some exciting upcoming developments including our new website, Theory of Change and the potential release of a new podcast!

We were delighted to hear from young people during the AGM, who discussed why they love attending our sessions and the impact our programmes have had on their lives. We heard from three current Outdoor Employment trainees, as well as a small group of young people from a number of our Community Youth Clubs!

Before I started with Young Bristol, I used to go to a youth group who booked water sports activities with Young Bristol. I wasn’t enjoying my job; the people weren’t very nice. Then I started to go to one session of the Outdoor Employment Programme a week and I really enjoyed going. I now go every week to both sessions. Now I have got qualifications in first aid, level 1 Paddle sport instructor and a level 2 speedboat Course and High Ropes.

- Owen, Outdoor Employment Trainee

As the evening came to a close, we heard from our Patron, Peaches Golding OBE CStJ, who presented Outdoor Activity Instructor, Owen, with a five year celebration of service award! Owen has dedicated five years of service to Young Bristol, thank you for all your hard work over the years!

Thank you Burges Salmon for kindly hosting our 2023 Annual General Meeting and Year In Review! We would also like to thank our supporters, donors and funders for supporting and funding the work we do for young people.

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February 10, 2025

Road to River - Bristol Circular 2025!

Join us for an exciting fundraising challenge with a twist, raising vital funds for Young Bristol!

Young Bristol are excited to host our 'Road to River - Bristol Circular 2025', a fundraising challenge with a twist, on Thursday 13th March! The events route will start and finish at Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre, with the circuits designed to test your endurance whilst taking in Bristol’s rural countryside and famous landmarks.

This unique event offers a fun, athletic way to support young people across Bristol! Whether you’re a keen cyclist or runner, enjoy paddling across Bristol’s iconic Harbourside, or want to take on an exciting challenge, our event is designed to suit all fitness levels, with two distances for you to choose from:

Sprint:

  • 30km cycle
  • 5km walk or run
  • 5km canoe

Endurance:

  • 45km cycle
  • 5km walk or run
  • 5km canoe

Entres are limited, and will be secured on a first-come, first-served basis. We ask all participants aim to raise at least £200 to for their participation. If you would like to sign up for our fundraising event, please call 0117 929 2513 or email info@youngbristol.com.

Event news
February 4, 2025

Supporting Children's Mental Health Week 2025

This week, Young Bristol are supporting Children's Mental Health Week, celebrating young people building resilience, embracing self-awareness and forming connections with others, between Monday 3rd February and Friday 7th February.

This year, Places2Be is exploring the theme 'know yourself, grow yourself', which aims to empower young people to understand their emotions, reactions and motivations, helping them to grow and thrive!

At Young Bristol, we are committed to continuing our Mission by providing safe places, a supportive environment, and activities and opportunities where young people can feel empowered, included and not alone.

Our Youth Mental Health Champions!

A Youth Mental Health Champion plays a key role in advocating for young people's mental health and wellbeing by raising awareness, starting important conversations and signposting to important resources.

Meet Kat, Club Leader at BS14 Youth Club. Kat is one of our Youth Mental Health Champions! As a Youth Worker, Kat is passionate about young people's wellbeing and believes in the importance of supporting their mental health, ensuring they receive the help they need.

"We, as a society, are getting really good at recognising mental health needs in adults but I feel in that process, young people have been forgotten. That's where I believe Youth Workers step in."

Youth mental health is important to her as she believes if you give young people the skills they need to manage their mental health now, you are giving them transferrable skills they can take forwards into their adulthood, which in the long run can help ease the strain on adults mental health services. When working at the club, Kat regularly checks in on young people's mental health and allows them to reflect on their own feelings, behaviours and management tools that work best for them.

Providing safe places for Bristol's young people

Our work provides young people with safe, welcoming, inclusive places where they can be themselves, build friendships, and access support when they need it most.

Our Youth Clubs and services continue be at the core of communities, giving young people the safety and support that they cannot find on the streets, acting as the bridge between home and school life.  

  • 1,345 young people were supported through our open access sessions throughout 2023 – 24.
  • Our 9 community venues in North, East and South Bristol continued to open their doors up to 4 nights per week.  
  • During 2023 – 24, 16 communities were positively impacted by our work, with 3 new communities supported by Young Bristol who had not previously received any youth services.
  • We’ve invested £528,280 into capital improvements at a number of our community venues since 2022; making improvements that would help to create environments that young people can thrive in.

Where you can find support and advice

Did you know one in five children face mental health issues? Whether you want to access helpful resources, start a conversation about mental health or are seeking professional advice and guidance, there are many ways you can begin to make a difference to a young person's mental health and wellbeing. If you or someone you know needs support, check out the links below for some recommended local and national services.

Young people

  • Mind - A mental health charity, whose aim is to ensure no one faces mental health alone. Offering online support and guidance that young people that can access on their website 24/7.
  • Shout - A free, confidential24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling with their mental health. To start a conversation, text 'SHOUT' to 85258. Shout's team of trained volunteers are trained to listen at any time, day or night.
  • Samaritans - Aims to provide support through phone, letter, email or in person. Whatever problem you are facing, Samaritans are available 24/7, 365 days a year!
  • Kooth - an online wellbeing community where you can get free, safe and anonymous support. The forum is a judgement-free, safe place for anyone to get advice, help others and share their stories.

Parents

  • Young Minds Parent Helpline - Offering tailored advice to parents, guardians and other family members who are concerned about a child's mental health. Advice for all young people who are under 25 over the phone or through their online chat.
  • Shout - A free, confidential24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling with their mental health. To start a conversation, text 'SHOUT' to 85258. Shout's team of trained volunteers are trained to listen at any time, day or night.
  • Samaritans - Aims to provide support through phone, letter, email or in person. Whatever problem you are facing, Samaritans are available 24/7, 365 days a year!
  • MindEd for Families - A free e-learning portal, offering information and support about mental health and well-being. Available 24/7 on their website!

To find out more about our work with young people and the opportunities we provide click here.

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February 1, 2025

A warm welcome to Young Bristol's new Trustees!

We are delighted to announce the appointment of four new Trustees to Young Bristol's Board of Trustees- Cathy Dodsworth, Fahma Mohamed, Jay Nash and Shannon Ringland!

These appointments come at an exciting time for Young Bristol as we head towards our 100-year anniversary in 2028! Young Bristol were keen to recruit new Trustees who could complement the skills of our existing Board members; and who had the passion, desire and ability to help the charity achieve its ambitious future goals.

Young Bristol continues to prioritise the importance of our Board having a broad representation of skills, backgrounds and experiences; as well as a shared passion and experience of working with the youth sector.

Meet the Trustees:

Cathy Dodsworth

Cathy grew up near Blackpool, Lancashire, spending a great deal of her time at a local youth club. During this time, she enjoyed playing hockey, hiking in the Lake District and completing her Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award. When working in Plymouth, she assessed young people undertaking their DofE expedition across Dartmoor.

Now living in Bristol, Cathy is a Coach and Safeguarding Lead for her local rugby club. Her son also regularly attends boxing sessions at Broad Plain & Riverside Youth Project! Cathy has personally benefitted from, and is passionate about, the value that sport, outdoor activities and youth clubs bring to the lives of young people. Cathy is a HR Professional, with over 30 years experience across public and private sectors. She was delighted to take up the post of Trustee in January 2025, supporting the amazing things that Young Bristol achieves across the city.

Fahma Mohamed

Fahma is a passionate advocate for young people's rights and a leader in the youth sector. She currently serves as Project Manager at Girls Friendly Society, focusing on The Girls Rights Collective and the organisations 150th anniversary. Fahma's career has been defined by her work empowering young people, particularly in the areas of gender equality and social justice. She led a successful campaign against FGM as a teenager, securing over 250,000 signatures and contributing to a £35 million government initiatives to end FGM and forced marriage. This work earned her the Young Campaigner of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Bristol.

Fahma's previous experience includes working with young people to challenge harmful practices and support their personal development, particularly around issues of cultural identity and gender-based violence. As a Trustee at Young Bristol, Fahma hopes to bring her passion for youth advocacy, extensive experience and strategic insight to help shape the organisation's future and expand opportunities for young people across the city!

Jay Nash

Jay is the Director of People and Culture at Teach First, where he drives people strategy and execution to advance the charity's mission of tackling educational inequality. With over 17 years of experience in HR, business transformation and consulting, Jay brings deep expertise in people management, leadership and organisational development. Passionate about supporting young people, Jay understands the critical role organisations like Young Bristol play in fostering their growth and potential.

A keen outdoor enthusiast, he values the transformative power of nature and it's ability to build resilience. This year, Jay has completed the Cambrian Way, a challenging thru-hike that reflects his belief in personal growth through new and demanding experiences!

Shannon Ringland

Young Bristol holds a special place in Shannon's heart, as she had the privilege of attending the Outdoor Employment Programme 10 years ago, when she initially moved to Bristol. The programme was able to provide Shannon with invaluable skills and experiences that have shaped her professional journey.

Since leaving our Outdoor Employment Programme, Shannon has worked in many of the South West's top visitor attractions, and currently serves as HR and Operations Manager at Wake the Tiger. Her passion for the outdoors aligns with Young Bristol's mission to inspire and empower young people through outdoor activities and community programmes. Shannon has, first hand, seen the transformative power of these opportunities and is excited to contribute alongside fellow Trustees, staff and supporters to further our mission, ensuring more young people can benefit from the incredible work Young Bristol does.

You can find out more about our Board of Trustees, Patron and President here.

Announcements
Team news
January 17, 2025

Young Bristol's Celebration, AGM and Awards event 2024!

On Wednesday 15th January, Young Bristol welcomed our supporters, staff team, and young people and their families to our Celebration, AGM and Awards Event. The event celebrated a year of growth and impact, and highlighted stories from individuals across the organisation.  

‍The event took place at one of Young Bristol’s Community Youth Clubs, Broad Plain & Riverside Youth Project, with a jam-packed evening which saw speakers, performances and a presentation of awards.  

We were thrilled to have young people from The Grove @ Bedminster Down and Youth Worker, Cassidy Cockram open the event. It was amazing to see the young people share their talents with the 100 people who attended.

We heard from Young Bristol’s President, Jonathan Webb and Co-Chairs Victoria Matthews and Jamie Cameron, who outlined the charity’s impact over recent years, our key achievements and focuses for 2025 – 2028.  

Lee Williams DL shared his experiences from the past seven years as Chief Executive of Young Bristol.  

“Leading Young Bristol has been the honour of a lifetime. In those past seven years, I’ve witnessed incredible transformations: a shy teenager finding their voice as a leader, a struggling child discovering their passion through STEM programmes and countless young people who once faced uncertainty now stepping into bright futures with confidence. These moments remind me daily of why we do what we do.”

The event welcomed supporters and key individuals who have been impacted by, and seen first-hand, the long-term positive effects of Young Bristol’s support. Alumni Junior Saunders spoke about his experience of Young Bristol as a young person, and how the support of Youth Workers can have a transformative impact on a young persons life. Junior welcomed the High Sheriff of Bristol Richard Cole, Lord Mayor Andrew Varney and Councillor Patrick McAllister to answer a series of questions focusing on the importance of youth work and its impact in communities across the city.  

Announcements
Awards
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January 15, 2025

Our 2024 'Young Person of the Year'!

Young Bristol are incredibly proud to announce that Eve, member of Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club, was awarded our 2024 ‘Young Person of the Year’!

On Wednesday 15th January, Young Bristol welcomed our supporters, Patron, President, Board of Trustees, staff team, and young people and their families to our Celebration, AGM and Awards Event. The event celebrated a year of growth, impact and stories from individuals across the organisation.

As part of the event, ten finalists were invited for this years ‘Young Person of the Year’ award, which recognises the amazing achievements of young people across the city, that attend our sessions and programmes. The award was judged anonymously by a panel, with the winner receiving an incredible prize package.

On the evening, young people were presented with a certificate from His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Peaches Golding OBE CStJ and award sponsor Clarion Future’s, Laura East. A gold envelope revealed that Eve, age 15 from Sea Mills Boys’ and Girls Club was this years winner! She was presented with a trophy, voucher from Browns Brasserie and iPad. Congratulations Eve!

Well done to all finalists who were selected for this years award. You should be incredibly proud of your commitment, growth and impact that you are having in your programmes and communities!

Young Person of the Year 2024 Winner - Eve’s story:

Eve, aged 15, became a member of Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club in 2018. When Eve first joined the club, she was very shy, only joining activities with her existing friends, taking a while to warm up and talk to new young people.

Since joining the club, the team has seen her confidence flourish, where she now leads the club's Young Leaders with confidence, manages the tuck shop, and inspires others with her dedication.  

Her Club Leaders said:

“We couldn't be more proud of her dedication to Sea Mills. She has shown how much the Club means to her and has had such a large effect on the other young people, which has meant more senior members at the club are now wanting to step up and have a similar role and impact as Eve!”

To find out more about our opportunities for young people across Bristol here.  

Awards
Event news
Stories
December 31, 2024

Young Bristol's 2024 Highlights: A Year to Remember!

2024 has been a year full of milestones for Young Bristol. Throughout the year, we have seen amazing opportunities, impactful partnerships and incredible transformations!

As we reflect on an amazing year, we are proud of everything we have achieved over the last 12 months!

January

In January, Jesse and Cheralee completed their Level 2 Youth Work qualification!

Throughout 2024, 8 members of staff were supported as they worked towards their Youth Work qualifications.  At Young Bristol, we remain committed to supporting our teams personal and professional development, prioritising their long-term growth, and ambitions.

February

A year of incredible recognitions! February saw the first of many celebrations, with Kyle from Hartcliffe Club for Young People awarded ‘Volunteer of the Year’ and Hartcliffe Club for Young People winning the ‘Your Park’ Award. Young Bristol, staff and young people received 9 local and national awards.

March

Our website is live! We launched our new website in March, showcasing a new and bright look, with an improved user experience that better allowed us to showcase our impact and work.

Check out our website to find out how you can support us, hear what’s on and read our latest news!

April

And the winner of our competition is… in April we announced the winners of our Creative Writing Competition, Peyton and Orla!

Throughout the year our team developed a programme of exciting opportunities which engaged 464 young people from across the city, taking part in events, activities, competitions and trips away.

May

We built new and existing relationships in 2024, with Computershare volunteering at our Youth Clubs and young people visiting Glastonbury Festival in May!

Corporate partnerships continue to make a huge difference – helping us to develop our provisions through fundraising, volunteering, donating and raising awareness of our work. Thank you to our partners who go above and beyond!

June

Young Leaders were excited to receive their new uniforms in June – making them feel part of the team at Young Bristol!

Throughout the year the number of young people who volunteer across our programmes continued to grow, with 27 young people volunteering their time and giving back to other young people!

July

Another year of amazing opportunities, reaching even more young people!

July saw a jam-packed city-wide programme of activities, workshops and exciting offers during the summer holidays. From caving and kayaking with our Outdoor Activities team to cooking workshops, trips and a sports day at our Youth Clubs.

August

Our fundraisers took on new challenges, ran marathons and competed at our annual Golf Day during 2024!

August saw 8 runners raise over £2,200 by taking on the South West Tough Mudder! Thank you to the individuals, groups and Corporates who pledged to fundraise for us this year.

September

We celebrated our impact in September!

We were proud to share our 2023 – 24 Impact Report which highlighted how we continue to support thousands of young people to feel empowered, included and not alone.

October

Our Youth Club on Wheels featured on the BBC One Show in October!

The feature highlighted the profound and life-changing work that the team behind this programme have delivered over the past five years – supporting nearly 1,000 young people across 16 communities.

November

Transforming our venues and investing in our infrastructure during 2024!

November saw the transformation of Ashton Vale Club for Young People, with a new multi-media suite, heating system, flooring and ceiling. Alongside our Clubs, Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre had exciting developments to the centre’s facilities and outdoor area!

December

As we come to the end of 2024, it has been incredible to look back at another impactful year, as we continued to play a crucial role in supporting young people and their communities!

Thank you for all your fantastic support!

Programmes
Stories
Team news
December 22, 2024

The Grove host their annual Christmas Fair 2024!

This week, The Grove @ Bedminster Down hosted their annual Christmas Fair at Bedminster Down Ex Service Club! Over 100 local residents came through the doors, enjoying all of the stalls and activities we had on offer.

This year, our young people led a social action project, where their voices were integral to shaping the stalls and activities. They even ran their own stall at the fair.

The fair featured a range of other stalls, including tarot card readings, jewellery, a lucky wheel, and food stalls. Visitors also enjoyed activities such as a raffle and bottle tombola. We were even lucky enough to welcome Santa and his elves to the fair, who hosted a grotto to help raise funds for The Grove!

To finish the Christmas Fair, the raffle ticket winners were announced, with some incredible prizes on offer, many of which were kindly donated by local businesses. These included a family pass to visit the SS Great Britain, go-karting tickets, and food vouchers. A big thank you to everyone who donated a raffle prize!

We hope everyone enjoyed this year’s Christmas Fair. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us raise significant funds, which will all be donated back to The Grove. Thank you to all the Young Bristol staff and young people who got involved—you made this event one to remember!

Event news
Programmes
December 11, 2024

Young Bristol's Christmas Card Winners 2024

We are delighted to announce that Esme from Ashton Vale Club for Young People and Maisie from Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club are the winners of the 2024 Christmas Card Competition!

Last month, we hosted a Christmas Card Competition across our Community Youth Clubs. Young people from across network were encouraged to draw a Christmas design that to be featured as this year’s annual Christmas Card!

We were delighted to receive a total of 47 entries from across our Youth Clubs, showcasing lots creativity through some fantastic designs!

The winner from our junior age group is Esme, aged 12, from Ashton Vale Club for Young People. The winner from our senior age group was Maisie, aged 13, from Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club! The pair have each been awarded a pack of cards that feature their design as well as a £15 Amazon gift voucher!

Stories
Programmes
December 5, 2024

McDonald’s Teams Up with Young Bristol to Create a Safe Haven for Local Young People

In an inspiring partnership with local youth charity, Young Bristol, Laura Wilder, Franchisee of the Bristol Fishponds McDonald’s, has transformed her restaurant into a safe and welcoming space for young people. This partnership comes as a result of McDonald’s Makin’ it initiative, run in collaboration with BBC Children in Need - to better support young people and unlock genuine opportunity.

Surrounded by several schools, Laura noticed an increasing number of young people gathering at her restaurant after school. Over time, she began to know the regulars by name, fostering relationships that have led to a much greater impact than anticipated. Laura’s presence as a mentor and positive role model grew as she took on a key role of providing reassurance, advice, and support to these young people.

In a bid to extend the positive impact beyond just the students who were visiting her restaurant, Laura formed a partnership with Young Bristol, the city’s leading provider of community-based youth services. The charity is well known for its extensive community youth club network across some of Bristol’s most challenging neighbourhoods and run a variety of initiatives including outdoor activities, holiday clubs and an outdoor employment programme which helps young people develop life skills.

Recognising the potential of combining their strengths, Laura personally funded six youth work sessions, which saw Young Bristol’s innovative Youth Club on Wheels parked outside her McDonald’s for a 3-hour window each week. This mobile youth service created a fun, interactive space for the youth, with various activities designed to engage, inspire, and positively influence their lives.

Over the course of the project, 24 young people from the local Fishponds community took part, solidifying the initiative’s success. This partnership between Young Bristol and McDonald’s has had a profound effect on the local community, all through crucial funding from BBC Children in Need. Not only has Laura’s restaurant become a gathering spot where young people feel safe, but it has also fostered anew, mutual respect between the McDonald’s team and young people in the area. Fishponds McDonald’s and Young Bristol look forward to continuing their partnership, with a new aim to provide employment opportunities for young people.

Local McDonald’s Franchisee, Laura Wilder, who owns and operates McDonald’s Fishponds, says:

“My team at McDonald’s Fishponds and I, together with Young Bristol, are deeply committed to creating lasting change in our community. We see the bright potential in every young person, and it inspires us to create a safe and welcoming space where they can connect, learn, and truly thrive. Together, we've already begun to see the positive impact of our partnership, and we’re excited to build on this foundation. Our goal is to open even more doors for growth and empowerment, ensuring that the youth of Bristol have the opportunities they deserve to shine.”

Shea Stew, Young Bristol Youth Club On Wheels Lead adds:

“Going into the project we did not know what to expect, but I was utterly amazed at the response from the young people and the community. It quickly became clear that there was a genuine need in Fishponds for something for young people. We really enjoyed working with McDonalds, and would love to see a bigger partnership in the future, as we know youth, community, and burgers, is a great combination.”

Since the start of the partnership with BBC Children in Need, McDonald’s has supported more than 185 youth projects employing more than 320 youth workers and improving outcomes for over 42,500 young people .McDonald’s customers can donate to BBC Children in Need by rounding up orders at the kiosk and via the McDonald’s App.

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